By Patricia Morris
As a grandparent of children in the TPSS, I am appalled at what is becoming abundantly clear on things that continue to plaque our children in this school system. While it would appear that some things are changing, what is clear is that a federal court is having to force the majority of those changes; something that should not be. Each public school student is guaranteed Constitutional Rights for Education under the Fourteenth Amendment in the Constitution of these United States. Is this the case? For obvious reasons, and because we are in court on said issues, proves it is not the case in many instances.
It concludes that many of the individuals that represent our children and their parents in at least six of nine public school districts do not do so as should be, that is, unless forced to do so.
Thus, a recall effort is underway to recall some of the school board members. Many times, when efforts such as is underway now come to fruition, fear tactics are put into place to stop that process. This fear tactic only empowers the same people being recalled. What is not realized by some elected officials is this. The power of the vote actually lies within the hands of the people; that same vote used to vote an individual into office; that same power can be used to unseat the same individual. This power was proven in the April 30, 2011 Tax Defeat election, lest we forget when we came together as one to defeat this tax. Again, the voter has the power to change a situation, or let it remain the same.
Does the GTPB NAACP support such a recall vote? Yes we do, because since 2004, and while some accomplishments is realized, the same status quo continues to raise its ugly head to thwart the inevitable. We need people in office that will listen to the Wills of the People who elected them as elected officials into office to provide equality for all, and not for self-gratifying efforts/reasons to support the satisfactions of a selected few. We as taxpayers pay the proverbial bills, and certainly should be heard loud and clear.
Therefore, if you are tired of the same thing(s) happening, and want a school system in place that will take us up from the bottom into a place of being recognized as the best in the State of Louisiana and across this country, join us and others in the effort to place people in place who are not afraid to clean up the mess created over the years, and put individuals in place who have the same vision of fundamental fairness and equity for all children in the TPSS, to include hiring the best qualified administrators, teachers and other staff who share the same dream(s) for each school-aged child in this school system, lest they continue to fail, and our school performance scores continue to plummet.
Finally, as this world continues to globalize itself, we can ill-afford not to collaborate with each other to save our school system.
If you are as tired and disgusted as many voters in this parish is beginning to be, join the recall collaborative efforts to place people in place that will listen and do what is right for each child in this school system, and stop people on the outside from across this state and around this country who ask the same question, "Why are the people not upset at what is happening to their school system in doing an outcry against the wrongs being committed by some?"